Aspen Valley Hospital taps interim CEO

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John Sarpa, chairman of the Aspen Valley Hospital board of directors, has tendered his resignation in order to take on the role of interim chief executive officer of the hospital, the hospital announced Friday.

The board appointed Sarpa as interim CEO while it seeks a successor to Dave Ressler, who has resigned as CEO effective May 24 in order to take an administrative post with Tucson Medical Center. Sarpa has served in a voluntary role as the hospital’s board president for the past 11 years.

“John has outstanding leadership qualities and a long history with the hospital. He is very knowledgeable about the health-care industry and knows many of the staff,” said hospital board member Dr. Barry Mink in a prepared statement. “We are lucky to have someone of such high caliber who is willing and able to move into the role. This will enable a seamless transition to new leadership.”

“I’m excited to work with the hospital in this capacity and look forward to continuing progress on many of the strategic initiatives currently under way, including continuing the momentum of our capital campaign and phases three and four of the master facilities plan,” Sarpa said in the statement. The hospital recently received city approval to proceed with the third and fourth phases of its expansion project.

Executive-search firm Witt-Kiefer was hired shortly after Ressler resigned, almost two months ago, to conduct a national search for the permanent CEO. The firm is in the process of identifying potential candidates.

Sarpa will assume his new responsibilities as interim CEO on May 25. As an employee of the hospital, Sarpa must step down from the board. His resignation was effective Friday. His current, four-year term on the board would have expired in May 2014. The remaining board members — Mink, Dr. Mindy Nagle, Lee Schumacher and Chuck Frias — must appoint a replacement for Sarpa within 60 days.